Buffalo Sabres Trading Alex Tuch?

Alex Tuch has been a very productive player for the Buffalo Sabers, despite a 14-year playoff drought. He came to Buffalo in a blockbuster trade that had the Sabers sending Jack Eichel and a 2023 third-round pick to Las Vegas for Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first-round pick, which became forward Noah Ostlund, and a 2023 second-round pick (that ultimately became Jordan Greenway). In 4 seasons with the Sabres, he's scored 30 or more goals three times. He's also been a key penalty killer and plays a good two-way game. Tuch is a hard player to find in the NHL, but might his days be numbered in Buffalo?

Are The Buffalo Sabres Trading Alex Tuch?

Tuch is an unrestricted free agent after this season and has been in talks with Kevyn Adams and the Sabres about an extension. However, those talks have "paused."

The question becomes, does the pause actually mean he is done negotiating? Or does he just want to focus on the Sabers and his play right now? Or maybe both? I don't know, but what I do know is where there is smoke, there's fire. If teams are inquiring, and given all the losing the Sabres have done while he's been here, it's not crazy to think Tuch may not re-sign, and they will have to trade him. After all, you can't just let a player like that walk and get nothing for him.

This is all very concerning for Sabres fans. Tuch is very well liked and is a semi-local product, having grown up in Baldwinsville, a suburb of Syracuse. He has been open about growing up a Sabres fan and is supposed to be the poster child for turning things around.

More on Tuch, Including Who the Sabres could get, Keep Scrolling ⤵️

Buffalo Sabres Forward Alex Tuch

Pictures of the Syracuse, NY native while playing for the Buffalo Sabres.

Gallery Credit: Getty

The problem is that things have not started out well for the Sabres. They have just two wins in six games, and while there's a lot of hockey to play, the team has looked lost in many of their losses. Hope for breaking an NHL record playoff drought is quickly dimming, and one has to wonder if Tuch has seen enough.

If Tuch were to be traded, here are some players the Sabres, hypothetically, could get back for him.

What are your thoughts on Tuch and the Sabres? Pat@WBUF.com